Spring-tongue clasps

ABSTRACT

Clasps for use as barrettes and bobby pins include spaced-apart top and bottom strips extending from a rounded bend to free tips. A resilient tongue extends between the top and bottom strips, close to or against the top strip for most of its length. At one extremity, the tongue is united to the tip of the bottom strip. At the other extremity, the tongue has an end part that extends into an opening in the bottom strip near or at the bend that connects the top and bottom strips. In use, the tongue and the top strip grip a lock of hair with distributed pressure, and there is practically no chance of hair being caught or snagged anywhere in the clasp.

United States Patent July 18, 1972 Goodman [54] SPRING-TONGUE CLASPS [72] Inventor: Jacob Goodman, New York, NY.

[73] Assignee: H. Goodman 8: Sons, Inc., Keamy, NJ.

[22] Filed: June 4, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 150,039

[52] U.S. Cl. ..l32/48 R [51 Int. Cl. A4Sd 8/24 [58] Field ofSearch ..l32/48, 46, 37, 139; 24/259 HC; 128/337, 325

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,675,806 7/1928 Holden 132/46 R 3,416,202 12/1968 Sasaoka ..132/46 R Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeill Attorney-Paul S. Martin 57] ABSTRACT Clasps for use as barrettes and bobby pins include spacedapart top and bottom strips extending from a rounded bend to free tips. A resilient tongue extends between the top and bottom strips, close to or against the top strip for most of its length. At one extremity, the tongue is united to the tip of the bottom strip. At the other extremity, the tongue has an end part that extends into an opening in the bottom strip near or at the bend that connects the top and bottom strips. in use, the tongue and the top strip grip a lock of hair with distributed pressure, and there is practically no chance of hair being caught or snagged anywhere in the clasp.

7 Chin, 12 Drawing figures SPRING-TONGUE CLASPS The present invention relates to barrettes and bobby pins.

Hair clasps in their simplest form, and the usual form of bobby pins, have elongated top and bottom strips extending from a bend at one extremity to free tips at the opposite extremity. When slid onto a lock of hair, the top and bottom strips of such clasps spread angularly, so that the hair nearest the bend is gripped firmly and the hair nearest the tips may not be gripped at all. In some hair clasps, a tongue is added to avoid this condition. The tongue extends from the tip of the bottom strip, slanted across the space between the strips. When such a barrette is applied to a lock of hair, the hair is gripped resiliently near the tips and it is gripped resiliently by the tongue and the top strip. remote from the tips. For moderate amounts of hair, the gripping members tend to remain more or less parallel.

Clasps of this three-element type are well known, having top and bottom strips and a tongue. An object of the present invention resides in providing a new and improved three-element hair clasp that combines the features of attractive appearance and efi'ective performance. A factor of critical concern is the possibility that hair might get caught. This concern is virtually eliminated without resort to structures that would impair the appearance of the clasps.

Barrettes of this three-element type are usually wide, and their appearance is impaired by the obtrusiveness of purely mechanical parts. A further object of this invention resides in providing an attractive and effective but simple three-element barrette. A related object resides in providing three-element clasps which are not only attractive and effective but which also are adaptable to the slender proportions of bobby pins.

A number of successful embodiments are described below and shown in the accompanying drawings for carrying out the foregoing objects. Each of these embodiments is a three-element clasp, including spaced-apart top and bottom strips joined by a rounded bend and a tongue extending from the tip of the bottom strip between the strips to a free end remote from the tips. The tongue includes portions or unitary segments in sequence starting at the tip including a short first segment along the bottom strip and a second segment slanted toward the top strip. This helps make it easy for the user to slide the clasp onto a lock of hair. The tongue includes a third elongated segment along the top strip but not necessarilyin contact therewith. At or near the bend that joins the top and bottom strips, the bottom strip has an opening. The tongue has an end segment that is curved and is received in that opening in the normal condition of the clasp, that is, when the clasp is not in use.

The novel clasp is readily slid into place, gripping a lock of hair. Near their tips, the top and bottom strips apply resilient gripping efiort to the hair, and remote from the tips the tongue and the top strip apply resilient gripping effort to the hair. The distributed gripping effort is realized through the inclusion of the resilient tongue. The end segment of the tongue shifts into the opening in the bottom strip. There is virtually no possibility of hair becoming caught or snagged. The appearance of the clasp is dominated by the top strip which is exposed in use, and this appearance is not spoiled by anything whose obvious purpose is essentially mechanical. The novel three-element clasps are highly effective and attractive as barrettes, and they are readily made very narrow so as to constitute an effective, unique bobby pin.

The nature of the invention including the above and other objects, novel features and advantages, will be more fully appre-ciated from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings forming part of the disclosure of the illustrative novel clasps. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a clasp representing an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side and bottom views, respectively, of the clasp of FIG. 1; I

FIG. 4 is a side view of the clasp of FIGS. 1-3 when in use, showing a lock of hair in cross-section;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary side views of two modifications of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, FIG. 6 being a lateral cross-section;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are top, side and bottom views, ly, of a further embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 10, 1 1, and 12 are top, side and bottom views, respectively, of a novel bobby pin, representing a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 13, a barrette is shown including top and bottom strips 10 and 12. Rounded bend 14 connects strips 10 and 12 and provides spacing between them. The top and bottom strips are two main elements of the illustrated barrette, and a tongue 16 is a third main element. Strips l0 and 12 and bend 14 are one metal part, and tongue 16 is a separate strip of metal that is spot-welded to the tip 12a of the rear strip 12.

respective- The tongue includes a number of continuous segments in the following sequence from tip 12a toward bend 14. The first segment 16a extends a short way along strip 12 and a second segment 16b slants from the first segment toward the front strip 10, away from tip 10a. Because of the space between tips and 12a and the fact that tip 10a projects farther from bend 14 than tip 120, and because of the slant of segment 16b, it is easy for the user to slide the clasp onto a lock of hair. If necessary, it is readily possible for the user, using only the fingets of one hand, to hold the clasp and spread tips 10a and 12a for receiving a lock of hair. Tips 10a and 12a are shown as fiat, 7

that is, aligned with their respective strips. It is not necessary to have them diverge (as in the case of most bobby pins) to make it easy to spread them farther apart when necessary.

Segment 160 of the tongue extends along top strip 10, preferably but not necessarily lying against the top strip. Segment 160 is shown straight but evidently it can be corrugated or sinuous along part or all of its length, if desired, for more secure retention of the clasp in a set position on the hair.

Tongue 16 has the same width as the top strip 10 along most of the length of the latter. The width of strip 10 is enlarged greatly near bend 14 in the illustrative embodiment. Strip 12 is uniformly as wide as bend 14. An opening 18 receives a fourth, curved segment 16d that is nested (with clearance space) in part of bend 14. Hole 18 extends half-way upward in bend l4, and rounded segment 16d moves freely in opening 18. The strip segment 16d is slightly narrower than the lateral edges of hole 18 so as to be clear of any possible binding fit in the opening.

When the barrette is slid into place on a lock of hair, the top and bottom strips spread a little and develop a certain amount of angularity. Near the tips of the clasp, the hair is gripped securely, and the same gripping effort develops further along strip 10 toward bend 14, by virtue of the resilience of tongue 16. End segment 16d shifts through opening 18 but at no point is there any chance of hair becoming caught. Transverse strands of hair can reach bend 14, but that hair cannot enter the space between tongue 16 and bottom strip 12 where it might get caught. Moreover, the surface of the portion of segment 16d which enters opening 18 is rounded and roughly parallel to the motion of that portion during deflection of the tongue. Therefore, in shifting from its position in FIG. 2 to that in FIG. 4, segment 16d has no tendency to clamp or pinch any transverse strands of hair against strip 12. And because segment 16d is contained within the curve of bend 14, the front view of the barrette is in no way affected by the structure necessary to meet functional requirements of the barrette.

The barrette of FIGS. l-4 has a tip 16c at the end of segment 16d which extends beyond the outline of opening 18 in the direction of tip 12a. This limits the relatively free deflection of tongue 16. When a large lock of hair is gripped, larger than enough to deflect tip 16c against strip 12, bowed deflection of segment 16c accommodates some additional hair.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of FIG. 2. In FIG. 5, tips and 16a are formed of one piece of metal, the whole barrette thus being stamped from a single strip. The overall thickness of the bend at tip 12a16a' may be considered excessive, so that the use of a separate tongue anda joint as in FIG. 2 is preferred even at the extra cost of the joint. Both forms of tip involve the tongue and the bottom strip being "united to each other in the sense of that word as used herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates a further modification of FIG. 2. Segment 116d has a reverse curve toward tonguesegment 1160 in FIG. 6. In this form, tongue segment116c bears directly against strip 112 when the hair forces tongue 116 to its greatest deflection.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate another embodiment. Tongue v216 is lanced from bottom strip 212 so that the whole barrette is made of one piece of metal. Here, in order to obtain enough metal for end segment 216d, the opening 218 extends into the top strip... This opening may form part of a decorative outline of the top strip so as to be attractive. However, if the top strip should be imperforate, then one, of the other embodiments may be followed.

FIGS. 10-12 show a still further embodiment of the invention. The top and bottom-strips 310 and 312 as well as tongue 316 are slender-here, readily being made three thirty-seconds inch wide or less in a clasp that is 2 inches long. Such a clasp is well suited to use as a bobby pin but has the many superior features discussed above. In FIGS. 10-12, the end segment 316d is spaced from bend 314,and strip 312 has a broad area containing opening 318. The top-to-bottom spacing between strips 310 and 312 may be less-than that of FIG. 2 and in that case it may be advantageous for tip 310a to slant outward. Segment 316 resembles segment 116. Otherwise, the embodiment of FIGS. 10-12 is like that of FIGS. 1-4.

The fourth segment of the tongue in each of the foregoing embodiments includes a rounded bend that has a first portion extending transverse to the elongated segment of the tongue and a second portion that extends from this transverse first portion as a reverse bend in a direction roughly parallel to the bottom strip and generally toward the tip 12a, 16a. The disposition of the transverse portion is such that it does not tend to grip or catch any hair as it moves. The transverse portion of the tongue enters the rear opening and thus closed off the space between: the tongue. and the bottom strip against entry of hair fromvthe space between the tongue and the top strip. The transverse portion does not form the end of the tongue, but instead the tongue includes a reverse-bent portion. The latter forms a bearing area that avoids the application of sharp pressure of the end of the tongue against the head of the wearer in case the whole barrette is pressed against the wearers head. Thus, the transverse portion of the tongue and the reverse-bent portion each serves its separate purpose.

Further modifications and varied application of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, theinvention should be construed broadly in accordance with its full spirit and scope.

What is claimed is: g

1. A clasp especially effective for the hair, including a main part comprising elongated top and bottom strips extending integrally from a rounded bend to respective free ends remote from the bend, said top and bottom strips having inner faces opposite each other but spaced apart, and an elongated tongue having one end united to the free end of said bottom strip, said tongue having successive integral segments including a first segment extending along the bottom strip for a short distance, an elongated portion extending from said first segment to and along the inner face of said top strip, and a further segment extending from said elongated portion, said further segment being disposed near but not beyond said rounded bend and including a transverse portion directed away from said top strip, said bottom strip having an opening and said transverse portion being movable in said opening when the clasp is in use.

2. A clasp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elongated portion of the tongue includes a second segment slanted fromsaid first segment to the inner face of the top strip, and a third segment interconnecting said second segment and said further segment and extending against said top strip when there is no hair in the barrette.

3. A clasp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said further segment of the tongue includes a reverse-bent portion extending from said transverse portion toward the free end of said bottom strip.

4. A clasp in accordance with claim 3, wherein said further segment of the tongue includes an end portion extending from said reverse-bent portion to a point opposite but spaced from the inner face of said bottom strip for limiting the motion of said elongated portion of the tongue away from said top strip when the clasp is in use.

5. A clasp in accordance with claim I, wherein said opening extends to said bend but not to said top strip and wherein said transverse portion of the tongue curves along part of the rounded bend, to andinto said opening.

6. A clasp in accoreance with claim 1, wherein said opening is confined to said bottom strip.

7. A clasp in accordance with claim 6 for use as a bobby pin, wherein said top strip, said tongue, and most of said bottom strip are approximately as narrow as said opening, said bottom strip having a wide portion in which said opening is formed. 

1. A clasp especially effective for the hair, including a main part comprising elongated top and bottom strips extending integrally from a rounded bend to respective free ends remote from the bend, said top and bottom strips having inner faces opposite each other but spaced apart, and an elongated tongue having one end united to the free end of said bottom strip, said tongue having successive integral segments including a first segment extending along the bottom strip for a short distance, an elongated portion extending from said first segment to and along the inner face of said top strip, and a further segment extending from said elongated portion, said further segment being disposed near but not beyond said rounded bend and including a transverse portion directed away from said top strip, said bottom strip having an opening and said transverse portion being movable in said opening when the clasp is in use.
 2. A clasp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elongated portion of the tongue includes a second segment slanted from said first segment to the inner face of the top strip, and a third segment interconnecting said second segment and said further segment and extending against said top strip when there is no hair in the barrette.
 3. A clasp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said further segment of the tongue includes a reverse-bent portion extending from said transverse portion toward the free end of said bottom strip.
 4. A clasp in accordance with claim 3, wherein said further segment of the tongue includes an end portion extending from said reverse-bent portion to a point opposite but spaced from the inner face of said bottom strip for limiting the motion of said elongated portion of the tongue away from said top strip when the clasp is in use.
 5. A clasp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said opening extends to said bend but not to said top strip and wherein said transverse portion of the tongue curves along part of the rounded bend, to and into said opening.
 6. A clasp in accoreance with claim 1, wherein said opening is confined to said bottom strip.
 7. A clasp in accordance with claim 6 for use as a bobby pin, wherein said top strip, said tongue, and most of said bottom strip are approximately as narrow as said opening, said bottom strip having a wide portion in which said opening is formed. 